PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kotetsu Yama (ranked 2672 p4p, 2757 weight class) and Darren Tolbert (ranked 245 p4p, 253 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yama
vs
Tolbert

168 cm
27
159
9 - 8 - 0

177 cm
22
157
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL Shorts!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kotetsu Yama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darren Tolbert!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yama throws a poor cross that misses

and Tolbert holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tolbert.
Yama will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tolbert up against the cage.
Yama swings wildly with an uppercut but Tolbert uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tolbert gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tolbert swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tolbert looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tolbert goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yama lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yama misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Tolbert scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yama.
Yama lands a body shot.
Tolbert has a couple of punches blocked by Yama.
Yama can't find room to land a body shot as Tolbert controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yama trying to control the position but instead, Tolbert has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yama into the cage.
Yama misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Yama.
Tolbert fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tolbert prevents a body shot from Yama.
Yama lands a right hand.
Yama misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tolbert lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Yama has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tolbert clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Tolbert can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yama is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Tolbert is defending well though. Yama let's go of the attempt for now.
Yama trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tolbert trying to control the position but Yama manages to sink in the hooks.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yama is looking to control Tolbert but Tolbert is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Yama looking to break Tolbert's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Tolbert remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Yama will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Yama avoiding Tolbert 's attempts to control his hands.

Tolbert is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Tolbert tries to roll but Yama sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yama is punishing Tolbert with strikes - can he finish him?!
Tolbert tries to escape but Yama has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Yama has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Yama lands shots from the back.

It looks like Darren Tolbert has been cut.
Tolbert tries to escape but Yama has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Tolbert trying to control the action but Yama just sinks the hooks in.

Yama looking for the RNC.

Yama tightening his grip on Tolbert, looking for the choke.
Yama tries to get the hooks in deep but Tolbert pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yama is not going to allow Tolbert to sit and survive in this position.
Yama throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Tolbert!
Yama lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That has opened up Darren Tolbert's cut even more.
Yama struggling to land strikes to the head as Tolbert covers up.
Tolbert can't escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tolbert is keeping busy.
Yama is not going to allow Tolbert to sit and survive in this position.
Tolbert rolls, trying to escape but Yama keeps control of the position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Yama lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Tolbert rolls, trying to escape but Yama keeps control of the position.
Tolbert avoids the strikes from Yama.
Tolbert is taking damage to the body and head.

Tolbert has hold of Yama's leg, trying to break free but it's let Yama lock up a rear naked choke! This could be big trouble! Tolbert is turning an unusual color here… he's out! Yama throws him to one side and jumps onto the cage to celebrate with his fans.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kotetsu Yama!
After winning the bout, Kotetsu Yama thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.